Posted 06/15/2011 9:30 pm
My scanner and camera are both about 10 years old. The camera is good enough, though they hadn't invented "megapixels" when they made it. The scanner (also a HP), however, is excellent for coins. All the pics I've taken of coins here on the forum are scans. See the how far back can we go thread for some examples.
The trouble with HP is they've got terrible support, especially with regard to updating software. When I had to upgrade to a new computer with Windows 7, the only updated driver which HP would supply me was a clunky generic thing which doesn't allow for the capability my scanner has to scan photographic negatives and slides. The scanner itself still works, but barely - it feels like they've put a lawnmower engine in my sports car. Apparently, HP want me to throw out this perfectly good scanner and buy a new one - which probably won't work nearly as well on coins. Not gonna happen, HP!
Finally, scans do have drawbacks. Even the best scanners don't do a very good job of capturing lustre and subtle toning. At the same time, scratches dints and other defects are highlighted in all their glory. The net result is that scans tend to make your gorgeous AU coins look like a shabby EF. Not recommended if you're trying to sell your coins, or if you're trying to post pics enquiring about grade. I'm not selling and I'm comfortable with my grading ability, so I don't particularly mind.
The trouble with HP is they've got terrible support, especially with regard to updating software. When I had to upgrade to a new computer with Windows 7, the only updated driver which HP would supply me was a clunky generic thing which doesn't allow for the capability my scanner has to scan photographic negatives and slides. The scanner itself still works, but barely - it feels like they've put a lawnmower engine in my sports car. Apparently, HP want me to throw out this perfectly good scanner and buy a new one - which probably won't work nearly as well on coins. Not gonna happen, HP!
Finally, scans do have drawbacks. Even the best scanners don't do a very good job of capturing lustre and subtle toning. At the same time, scratches dints and other defects are highlighted in all their glory. The net result is that scans tend to make your gorgeous AU coins look like a shabby EF. Not recommended if you're trying to sell your coins, or if you're trying to post pics enquiring about grade. I'm not selling and I'm comfortable with my grading ability, so I don't particularly mind.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
